I’ve been in California for nearly two months now, but everyone I run into asks the same question: “Are you going to move here permanently?” Those back in Georgia frequently ask me “Do you see yourself moving back home?” And of course, with the LSAT on my mind 24/7, the inevitable question of “Where do you want to go to law school?” comes up. Apparently all things post-grad rely on geography!

Where you go to law school matters a lot – especially for where you want to live. If you go to a school that isn’t nationally recognized, job perspectives outside of that region shrink. Am I spending all of my time thinking about law school in the context of location? No – there are more initial factors, but picking a future residence does have a major importance. But how daunting is that? Although it may be a little drastic to say, it really feels like I have to answer “Where do you want to live for the rest of your life?” right now at this very second.

So, the plan was to move out here – get my post-grad life together, and then figure out where to go after I worked hard enough to make my plans happen. Since I’ve been here, a lot of people assume this is where I plan to reside forever. Do I want to end up in Orange County or Southern California forever? Honestly, I don’t know if it’s for me. While California is gorgeous, I still don’t feel like I can call this place home. I haven’t had my “ah-ha” moment of residential happiness.

But then again, I can’t help but think that if my boyfriend lived out here with me, would I feel differently? Chances are pretty likely that I would. What if my sister lived out here? I think I’d have a different attitude. Maybe the idea of a place to call home is all perspective, but even though I’m living with my dad – it just feels like I can’t get too comfortable out here on the Golden Coast (but then again, can anyone get too comfortable when they have logic games on their minds all day?).

I am a believer that where you live has a huge impact on who you are, who you will become in the future, and your overall happiness. According to The Happiness Project, one major happiness killer is “living somewhere that does not let you be you” and as every day passes, I feel like I need to figure the answer to where I will be happiest, location wise. Am I getting too ahead of myself in figuring out where I possibly want to live as a future cat lady?

Maybe I’ll just move to South Africa. My younger sister took off and lives there now – it works for her, so maybe I should do it too. I could always close my eyes and pick a random spot on a map. And of course, there is the Elizabeth Gilbert approach. Why not  Eat, Pray, Love my way across the United States – and maybe even the world – until I feel confident I can find the perfect place to spend what could be the rest of my life?

Moving is an inevitable part of life. I moved across the country when my parents divorced. I left home for a college seven hours away in Virgina. I lived in New York City by myself for an entire summer. I lived in London. Hell, I moved dorm rooms more than three times my freshman year. I know that I won’t stay in the same place forever, so maybe I shouldn’t think too much into it right now.

However, if anything my post-grad life has taught me it’s not to make plans, so maybe geographically speaking, the future of where I live and work and rejoice in happiness will be out of my control. And that’s the scariest thing of all.

Going abroad for the semester is full of new sights, new sweets and new stories to tell, but the abroad experience does not have everyone’s name on it.  Some apply for the passport while others just pass all together on the international experience.

But what happens when our friends go abroad without us?

How do we possibly survive when our closest pals board those planes and we are back in the states being red, white and totally blue?

Let’s put those old words into practice and let the distance make our hearts (and friendships) grow stronger through these simple ways to survive the semester apart.

My best friend Skype: We thought Jefferson was pretty clever with the light bulb, but this innovation blows electricity away. A free service that allows people to communicate through web cam, this handy messenger has changed the face of long distance relationships and is easy to use as well. Grab a cup of coffee and make a date with your friend abroad to catch up face to face.

Traveling pants and other random belongings: Sewing the gap between countries can be so much easier when you form a common thread; a journal that you pass between friends, a shirt that gets mailed from person to person… all of these things can be mailed back and forth to one another in order to keep in touch with something tangible. Currently, my best friend and I purposely leave juicy stories out of our emails and write them in a journal that we mail back and forth to each other. It makes for something exciting to look forward to in the mail.

Growing closer by growing apart: I took for granted the fact that I could call my best friend at a second’s notice to meet up and talk on campus. Now that she is gone I realize the amount of time that I have on my hands, no longer filled with coffee dates and shopping excursions. Instead of wallowing over the open gaps in the planner, fill those slots with new and exciting things you have always wanted to do. Go out and do things that will make those emails to your abroad buddies even more interesting. Salsa dancing, blogging, pottery painting, meeting new people – the possibilities are endless.

They are off seeing the world, not stopping ours: Seeing your friends off to the airport can be brutal, but as they go off to find some new adventures it is important to carry on and find our own adventures. Don’t stay stationed at that computer waiting for the Skype call or constantly refreshing your inbox to see if a new email awaits. Get out there and enjoy that semester! You’re on a college campus, not in jail! No matter where you are, be it twenty thousand miles away or in the same place you have been for three years, each day holds an immense amount of potential for great things to happen.

It is no shocker, the distance is tough. Some days will hit harder than ever as you wish your friend was there to pick up the phone when you call or meet you to sort through a midterm break down. But let’s pick ourselves up, cheer our traveling friends on and seek our own adventures. With letters and emails and a little care package here and there, our friendships have the potential to go above and abroad.

For those going abroad for the upcoming semester or planning a trip to Europe anytime soon, here are some helpful tips to get you around:

You are from Canada: Let’s be honest – Americans like to think they rule the world, and sometimes that holier than thou attitude rubs Europeans the wrong way. Don’t go overseas acting like a stereotypical American (you know, the ones that yell loudly when speaking to someone that doesn’t understand English as if the other person is deaf…) It may be hard when adjusting to culture shock, but the best way to get past it is to simply embrace it. If you can’t … just say you’re from Canada and all the questions will go away.

“Tap Water is For The Prisoners”: When I was thirteen, I went to Europe for two weeks on a guided school trip. The tour guide told my class that only prisoners drink tap water, so we shouldn’t order it at a restaurant. Forget that, live like a prisoner. Unlike in the states, restaurants just don’t bring out water for you. They tend to bring out bottled water, and after walking around Amsterdam all day, finishing off one of those babies happens fast…as does racking up a huge bill. Unless you really have a problem drinking tap water, order it. Not only will it save you money, but it will be cold. Most restaurants will serve you room temperature bottled water, but if you want something icy cold … tap water is the only way you’ll get those extra ice cubes. Free, cold water? No complaints there!

Transportation made easy: With an abundance of train services, ferry boats, and cheap flights (EasyJet and Ryan Air – however, beware of extra fees), traveling from one country to the next is affordable and a must for any European experience. If you shop around for the best deals, you can save lots of money hopping from Belgium to France in one weekend. Although taking the train may seem foreign (trains are rarely utilized in the USA as a form of fast, easy transportation), it is the best way to see Europe. Really, how can you complain when you’re on your way to Paris for the weekend with countryside outside your window?

Hold the Anchovies: I ordered a ceasar salad expecting just you’re standard plate of lettuce and ceasar sauce, but instead, I got a plate full of anchovies (complete with their eyeballs still intact) and a mayo sauce. Make sure when ordering at a restaurant you are as specific as can be or else you may be surprised. Also, if you like your meat cooked a certain way, tell your waiter or else you’re “well done” steak may come out bloody and pink. However, if you can get past some food differences, indulge yourself in as much cultural foods as possible, i.e. when in France, live off of croissants and macaroons!

See the sights: While a lot of my study abroad group got wasted every night, a good amount chose to see the sights. You are abroad, so why are you blacked out outside of Big Ben? A big mistake that a lot of abroaders make is mixing culture with fun – they think they can’t. You paid a lot of money to go abroad, so it is important to see everything that you can. No one wants to come back from Europe to say “I skipped out on the Mona Lisa because I was hung over” or “I couldn’t climb to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral because I was puking in a pub instead.” Party and have a great time, but prioritize what you are going to see. If you can schedule your days ahead, you can save a lot of time for partying and pub crawls later.

Be a local: Instead of eating at restaurants you are familiar with or sticking to simple tourist destinations, expand your travels and pretend you are a local. Ask opinions of the receptionist at your hostel of where to eat. Find out what shopping areas aren’t as famous and go see what you can dig up there. Try new foods and drink. For example, you can’t leave London without at least trying their fish and chips once. Don’t just stick to the same old path everyone else is, explore the beaten path and you will have a much more rewarding experience of culture and understanding of the area along the way.

Happy Traveling!

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman, so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like the ever controversial jeggings!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]

The time has come once again to start picking classes for spring semester (really? didn’t we just do this?) and my mind turns to places that won’t be covered in grey slush come January. Places with warm, sunny vistas and boys with sexy accents. In other words, places abroad.

The appeal, of course, of study abroad is distinctly held in the ”abroad” part. It’s a chance to go off and live somewhere exotic, and yet, have the safety net of a very specific purpose and time period (not to mention a built-in group of people who speak your language). With study abroad, you get the chance to soak up a new culture and really be a part of it, instead of the way you rush through on vacations. Plus, you can go to a place you’d never really be able to afford to live in and because of the school, you can make it work.

And even putting aside the sights, the food, and the boys with sexy accents, there is one other major perk of study abroad. Just like when you first moved off to college, you get a new start, a chance to reinvent yourself with people who probably didn’t see that time you made the walk of shame with your underwear hanging out of your purse.

But even things involving boys with sexy accents (did I mention that already?) have their downsides, and it’s true for study abroad too. Going off to another country is a much bigger move than most of us make for college, and it’s not just leaving behind those weekend trips home (and the way your mom lovingly folds your laundry when you visit) or all the memories your friends back on campus are making together. Without you. Just like moving to college the first time, you’ll be starting over, having to make new friends in a strange new place and this time you might not even speak the language. If you had freshman depression, this might not be a road you want to travel. And there is also an expense involved in doing some study abroad programs. Though most schools do their best to make it viable for all students, if you’re trying to put yourself through school, it just might be out of reach.

What do you think, ladies? Would you want to try your hand at school in a foreign country? Have you? Or do you think that going abroad might be a little more than you’re looking for from college? Duke. It. Out.

Let’s be honest here for a second: books like “He’s Just Not That Into You” exist for a reason. And that reason is that women, as a collective, are really good at convincing ourselves of feelings and relationships that just aren’t there. We get so caught up in luuuurve that we don’t let ourselves see what’s really going on.

You know you’ve been there. You get a drunk text from a guy you heart at 3am and think, “Awww, he’s thinking about me!” You’re giddy and excited (and secretly start planning his birthday gift) and when you don’t get a text the next day (or 3 days after that…) you reason that he’s busy, he’s stressed out, or he has a knack for flushing his phone down the toilet when he’s drunk and he did party pretty hard last night. And your friends totally agree.

But, no matter how delusional we get (and, home girl, you know you get delusional), there comes a time when the signs are bright and flashing and undeniable: this kid is over it. Done. Dunzo. See ya never, biatch.

For me, it was when I made plans to go camping with my boyfriend, only to meet him at his house and see him leaving with another chick. (Yeah, it was rough, but I had the can opener, so I’d like to see how that turned out for him!) Or the guy who told me he was moving home for the summer…and then I saw him at the bar later that week.

For the CollegeCandy writers, there were equally obvious signs:

Kelly – Simmons University: When he said “Let’s go up to Sally’s room” minutes after having sex with me. Sally being the friend he ditched me for.

Ness – Sheridan: After the told me to meet him at a concert… and he showed up with his girlfriend.

Kathryn – University of Wisconsin-Madison: When he called me one night and told me detailed (and I mean detailed) information about his sex life. Definitely the fastest way to be shoved into the “friends category.

Kim – University of Delaware: When your girls get invited to a party and you tag along only to find out it’s at his house… and when he spots you he asks who invited you.

Kim – Stanford: He chose XBOX over sex.

Sara C – Fordham: A guy once traveled 150 miles to visit me at school and then insisted on sleeping side-by-side without touching (not even our shoulders) on my uncomfortably narrow dorm bed. Upon finding us the next morning, my roommate said we looked like two corpses in a single coffin. I guess our relationship wasn’t the only thing that had kicked the bucket.

Mandy – Hofstra: When they say “I’m not looking for anything serious”…. even after talking to you for months.

Danielle – Boston University: When he chooses to write a science paper over hooking up with you. That was bad.

Mechelle – Florida State: When he’s not willing to work to make it better. Really, is it so hard to watch a movie with a girl once in a while?

Maddy – Tufts: When I saw pictures of him with another girl on Facebook. So predictable, yet so true.

Ricki- University of Michigan: When he invited his ex-girlfriend up to spend the weekend with him the week before my next date party.

Lauren H – The New School: When his phone spontaneously “stopped getting” all of my calls and texts.

Katie – Michigan State: I knew it was over with my boyfriend when he went to Korea, promising a long-distance relationship and to return in three months…and he never came back.  Or called/texted/e-mailed me.  It’s only through mutual friends that I know he’s alive (unfortunately).

Sarabeth – University of Texas: When he called me at 2am saying, “I’m gonna have a kid.” Yeah, so over.

Erica – Kent State: When I woke up in his bed @ 7 a.m. and he wasn’t there, and when I called to ask him where he was he said “I’m at [Girl's name here]. And I’ll come back whenever the hell I want.”  OUCH.

Elizabeth – University of Missouri: When he would randomly disappear for an entire weekend… which wouldn’t of been such a big deal, if he wasn’t experimenting with ecstasy/shrooms/salvia/acid.

What about you? When did you know that things with you and your man were at a point of no return?

This week, in honor of the day of lovin’, we asked our writers what they are just loooovin’ right now.  Me? I’m head over heels for Chelsea Handler, Thai carry-out and 2 Buck Chuck.

Sigh.

Gemma – NYU: I am love love loving on all the awesome tights from American Apparel!! I am SO sick of bundling up all the time, and with them I get to wear my dresses in the cold, and I can’t get enough!  Also, still lovin on Obama. And not necessarily in that order.

Coco: I love the warm weather streak in the middle of winter.

K – GWU: I hate global warming, but I love wearing flip flops in the North East in February…and having a reason to get a pedicure prematurely.

Lauren – University of Michigan: Fiber 1 Toaster Pastries. They are like healthy Pop-Tarts!

Ashley Elizabeth – CU Boulder: Kissing in the rain.

Brithny – Duke: I LOVE the new John Grisham courtroom thriller, The Associate. It’s definitely a must-read!

Donyae – University of Maryland: I love iTunes right now. I know it’s part of an evil empire but it’s just so easy! And efficient. Which is why I spend too much money on it.

Meregan – Brown University: I’m loving all the chick flicks coming out this month–I know they’re probably cliché but I can’t help myself, I have to go see them!

Erica – Kent State: I love being sober! Sounds crazy, I know, but it’s been a week and I already feel slightly smarter, more productive…and skinnier!

Liza M – Minnesota: Right now I’m loving my plans for V-Day weekend: Canada trip with boyfriend, his best friend and his girl! Perfection.

Carly – Grinnell: I LOVE the idea of going to pastry school. It’s probably a lot cooler in my mind than it is in real life, but whatever, I totally want to do it.

CJ – UConn: Lin-Manuel Miranda. If you haven’t heard of him, Google him.

Alex – Lakehead University: I love LIFE. But seriously, everything is perfect; I’m just so thankful!

Elise – Stanford: Shea butter lotion and Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Lipgloss!

Sarabeth – University of Texas: Music and, of course, my boyfriend.

Leah – Ryerson: I love my best friend who spontaneously bought a plane ticket to come spend reading week with me!!

Amanda – Reed College: I’m loving that video from SNL called “I’m On a Boat.” I’m also obsessed with my Laura Mercier gel liner – it’s amazing, I still can’t get over it.

Maddie – Tufts : Since I don’t have a real-life Valentine and I’m abroad in Madrid for the semester, I’ve been devoting all of my love to Spanish cheese and wine. Hopefully it doesn’t all go to my waistline, or else I’ll really never have a real-life Valentine…

S.E. – Fordham: Right now, I’m loving me some Red Bull. It’s like crack in a can.

John – UConn: Right now, I love my body. Despite the fact that I didn’t go to the gym today and I ate a loaded baked potato and I had fried eggs for breakfast and I just ordered some pizza right before bed because it was only eight dollars for a large, yes, I love my body. I feed the things I love.

And dressed in leather.

$400 of makeup products for free? Sign me up!

Don’t like Obama? Here are some tips for livin’ abroad.

Everyone was lookin’ hot at last night’s American Music Awards.

Spend less money at the bar.

Megan Fox hearts Zac Efron. Get in line, sister.

No more selling sex on Craigslist for free, ladies.

The First Lady has quite a booty.

Is Suri Cruise the next Paris Hilton?

Mac teams up with Hello Kitty. So cute.

Note to self: keep potatoes away from butt.

Obviously, when her new show, The Big Give, kicked off on Sunday night I was sitting in front of my TV to see what my diva friend was up to now.

For those of you who don’t have shrines to Oprah in your bedrooms (not that I do or anything…) the premise of The Big Give is quite simple: each week contestants are given a large sum of money and a picture of someone in need. The contestants must then use the money (and a whole lot of help) to come up with a way to make that person’s dreams come true.

In other words: a total tear jerker.

And while there are many things wrong with the show (the fact that these people are on an Oprah show allows them to enlist the help the corporations and celebrities), it really did infuse me with a desire to give back. There are so many ways to help those in need – both big and small – and Oprah’s new show reminded me that no matter what we are capable of, everyone can and must do something.

So, for all you seniors out there pondering what the hell you are going to do with your life come graduation, perhaps you should consider something a little more philanthropic. Corporate America and the “real world” you have been working towards will be around forever, but the opportunity to do something drastic to change people’s lives (including your own) may never come again.

I jumped into my career the day I left campus and I have been regretting that decision ever since. There were so many life-changing opportunities that I didn’t take advantage of and know I will never have the chance to again.

Opportunities like the Peace Corps. Or Teach for America. Or other programs abroad where you teach English, work to end the world AIDS epidemic, or dispense food and medicine to orphaned children. I had friends who did all of these and still managed to come back to a great job, apartment, and the city life I had rushed to join two years before.

Not the type of person to just pick up and take off? Too busy to start your own organization?

There are thousands of local organizations, projects and causes that need your help. Volunteer once a month at Habitat for Humanity. It is incredibly fun and fulfilling as you work alongside the family that will eventually move into that home. It is also quite therapeutic to swing a hammer after a long week at work.

Or take your dog to a nursing home, go to a homeless shelter and work with the children, help people get back on their feet by editing their resume or giving them computer training, tutor inner city kids, donate to a canned food drive or donate used clothing/cell phones/books/anything to local shelters.

Whatever you do, no matter how small, it is more than some people could ever ask for. We don’t need to give big like the Oprah peeps in order to help; anything we can do is enough.

Need some inspiration? Check out The Big Give Sunday nights on ABC.

[Editor’s Note: If you’re an NYC girl, check out NYCares.com. It’s a great program with TONS of fun opportunities to help your community!)

But all that changed for me the summer of 2006. I was spending the summer abroad in England, and countless phone calls to my then boyfriend back in the states would go like this:

Me :”I miss you honey!”

Him: “Me too, Babe!”

Me: “So how are you!?”

“I’m gr–Oh babe, gotta go–the guys are about to watch LOST,”

“But-”

“I love you! I miss you! Bye!”

It wasn’t until I came back in September and he forced me to watch the first few episodes, that I completely understood why his priorities were so screwed up over the summer. Once you start watching LOST, there is ultimately no turning back. You will want to must find out what happens next. I think the best metaphor I can provide is that LOST is to me what heroin is to addicts. I can’t get through life without a fix.

And that’s why I’ll be re-capping episodes for you here on Collegecandy from now on. I’ll give you my opinion, you can give me yours. Who sucks (Jack and Locke, in my opinion)? Who’s hot? (Sayid + Desmond, naturally) Who are the remaining two members of the Oceanic six!? (Sun + Jin!)

Season Four has started off GREAT. They’re finally giving us what we want! Every episode has made sweet, sweet love to the viewer. They know what we want, and they’re just giving it to us nice and hard, even sticking around to cuddle afterwards.

New plot elements, and finally, FINALLY shedding some light on other issues (The smoke monster! Hello?!). I’m even digging the somewhat cheezy Gilligan’s Island element they’re throwing in. Sawyer + Hurley as roomates!? Awesome.

Episode Four re-cap to come!

But being the poor individual that I am, I can’t even afford a digital camera, and the tiny, no sound video application on my phone takes such a long time to start working that whatever I wanted to record is gone and over by the time I’m ready.

And what about those of you about to go abroad? Don’t you wish you had something to capture the exotic sights and sounds with that didn’t cost an entire semester’s tuition to buy?

Well, I think I might have found something that could help us all.

The Flip Video camera is a pocket sized digital camera that comes with a built in USB port and it’s own simple editing software—all for less than about what it would cost you to buy a new outfit.

Ranging from $120-$150, Flip Video cameras seem like a great tool for journalism students, those abroad trips through the rainforest, even a Sunday afternoon where there’s nothing better to do than make a YouTube video. Plus, the under $200 price tag keeps you from feeling like your life is over if the thing breaks.

The Flip Video doesn’t look like it has a very good zoom, and looks as though it has to be constantly hand-held, but it’s small size and affordable price seem to even out those aspects.

Have any of you ever used the Flip Video? Would you recommend it? Or is it just another gadget that seems awesome but ends up being lame?